Washing-machine



' T. 0. MURPHY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Modl.)

WASHING MAGHINE.

No. 636,643. Patented Apr. 2, 1895.

, (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. 0. MURPHY. WASHING MACHINE.

N0. 536,643. Patented Apr; 2, 1895.

, UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY O. MURPHY, OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 536,643, dated April 2, 1895. Application filed April 2,1894- Serial No. 506,041- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, TIMOTHY O. MURPHY,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Du-- buque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to washing machines, and more particularly to that class thereof wherein the clothes are subjected to a pounding, pressing or squeezing action exertedthereupon by a'reciprocating pounder and among the objects sought to be attained by my invention are to provide a washing machine of the character described which is simple, inexpensive and durable andefficient in operation, and to provide such a machine with means whereby the clothes are automatically turned to thereby present different portions to the action of the pounder thereby effecting a complete and thorough washing of the clothes and with the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting my improved washing machine, all as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawingsz-Figure 1 is a perspective view, parts being broken away to show the in- 5 is a similar view showing the bearing block and bearing for the operating shaft detached. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the washing machine complete. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified arrangement of the operating means for the pounder.

A indicates the clothes receptacle or box which may be constructed in various sizes and of various shapes preferably square or rectangular, as shown, the same being supported Fig. 2 is by suitable legs B, and adapted to be closed by means of a cover 0.

D indicates the pounder, the same comprising a rectangular open frame E, extending across the clothes box nearly the entire width thereof and to which frame are secured a series of upright ribs F having spaces between them, to enable the water to find egress therethrough in the action of pounding or pressing the clothes as presently described.

With the pounder are adapted to co-operate a series of upright ribs G secured to one end of the box A and having spaces between them similar to the ribs F the latter and the ribs G serving to exert a pressing or squeezing I employ the following-described means: K

indicates a shaft arranged within and extending transversely of the box A, and having suitable bearingsin the sides thereof, one end of which shaft projects beyond the box and is provided with an operating crank or handle L. M indicates curved or arched arms or levers, one end of which is keyed to the shaft and the opposite end is jointed to one end of arms or levers N whichlatter extend forwardly within the box and are pivotally connected to the vertical portions 0 of the pounder frame. The pounder is guided in its reciproeating movements by horizontally arranged arms P secured to the portion 0 of the pounder frame and adapted to reciprocate between horizontally arranged guide ribs Q secured to the sides of the clothes box, and said pounder is further guided in its movements by horizontally arranged ribs R secured upon the bottom of the box A and having spaces between them to receive the lower rabbeted ends of the ribs F. In order to impart firmness to the guide arms or ribs P, I

employ brace arms or supports S, one end of each of which is connected to the guide arm and the otherend to the base of the pounder frame. For thepurpose of automatically reversing or turning the clothes after each working stroke of the pounder to thereby present different portions to the pounding or pressing action thereof, and efiect a thorough washing of all parts of the clothes, I employ a series of rods T bent into right-angular form, one end of which is pivotally connected to ribs R within slots U formed in said ribs, which rods are adapted to lie within the spaces between the said ribs below their upper faces, and between the ribs G when the pounder is at or nearly at the limit of its working stroke as represented in Fig. 2 to thereby ofier no obstruction to the clothes as the latter are forcedtoward the ribs G by the pounder. The upper ends of the rods T are connected to a transverse rod V, to which latter are pivotally connected one end of rods W whose opposite ends are similarly connected to the upper ends of vertically arranged bars X, the lower ends whereof are piviotally connected to the ribs Z secured to the sides of the box A. Owing to the arrangement of the right-angled rods, rods V, and bars X, the weight of said rods '1 acts to normally pull upon the bars X and hold the same in contact with the arched arms M to thereby be operated upon by the latter to eflfect the turning of the clothes. As seen in Fig. l, the arms are held in an upright position by means of the arched arms thus maintaining the rods T in the inclined position seen in said figure, which inclination is sufficient to effect the turning of the clothes, and when the pounder has been reciprocated to exert its working action upon the clothes and occupies the position seen in Fig. 2, the arms will have been pulled into the inclined position seen, to be again acted upon by the arched arms when the pounder makes its return stroke.

I preferably mount the projecting end of the operating shaft in the bearing seen in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein A indicates a bearing block secured upon the outside of the box A and having the lower bearing B adapted to receive the upper bearing 0 for the shaft. Said block A is also provided with a vertical recess or slot D whereby to allow all rust, wear and oil from the shaft to fall therethrough without entering the box A.

If desired, the described method of mounting the end of shaft K may be carried out for the opposite end thereof.

In Fig. 7 I show. a modified arrangement of the operating devices for the pounder. In this arrangement I show the arms N mounted upon transverse rod or shaft N which is mounted in suitable bearings N secured to the pounder frame, the opposide ends of the arms N being also mounted upon a transverse rod or shaft N upon which shaft are mounted also the ends of the arched arms N The operation of my improved washing machine may be briefly described as foll0ws:-

. The suds having been placed within the box A the handle L is turned to carry the pounder into the position seen in Fig. 1, after which the clothes to be washed are placed within the space between the pounder and the rods T. The handleL is then turned to cause the pounder to force the clothes toward and against the ribs G thereby subjecting said clothes to a pressing or squeezing action, and as the pounder makes its return movement the rods T will be caused to turn or reverse the clothes so that upon the next forward or working stroke of the pounder the same will act upon fresh surfaces ofthe clothes and subject the same to the pressing or squeezing action described. In this manner the clothes are thoroughly and completely washed in all parts and without injury thereto.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a washing machine, the combination with a clothes receptacle of a horizontallyreciprocating pounder and means for turning or reversing the clothes consisting essentially of a series of right-angled rods pivotally connected at one end with the bottom of the receptacle, said rods being adapted to be oscillated as described for the purpose specified.

2. In a washing machine, the combination with a clothes receptacle, of a reciprocating pounder, a series of ribs carried by the bottom of the receptacle, a series of ribs carried by one end of the latter, and a series of rightangled rods adapted to be oscillated as described and to lie within the spaces between the said ribs in the manner and for the purpose specified.

3. In a washing machine, the combination with a clothes receptacle, of a horizontally-reciprocating pounder and means for turning or reversing the clothes consisting of a series of right-angled rods pivotally connected at one end with the bottom of the receptacle at points intermediate the end of the receptacle and the limit of the throw of the pounder in a direction away from said end, and said rods being adapted to be oscillated simultaneously with the throw of the pounder and being arranged so as to bring one portion of the rods into a vertical plane and the other portion into a horizontal plane to permit the pounder, to move over said horizontally-lying portions of the rods, in the manner described.

4:. In a washing machine, the combination with a receptacle, a transverse shaft within the same, a reciprocating pounder, arms M secured to the shaft, arms N pivotally connected to the said arms M, and the pounder, a series of right-angled rods pivoted at one end, rods W pivoted to the other end of the said right-angled rods, and pivoted arms pivotally connected with the rods W and adapted to be acted upon by the arms M,in the manner specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TIMOTHY O. MURPHY.

Witnesses:

THOS. F. MAGUIRE. M. D. NAGLE. 

